Automobile signal



AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL.

Application filed May 14, 1925.

This invention relates to signal apparatus and more particularly to vehicle signals.

An object of the invention is to provide Other objects and advantages will be manifest in the following specification of an embodiment of the invention here illustrated, modifications, variations and adaptations being deemed within the'scope of the invention as it is here claimed.

Figure 1 is a perspective of the signal device. Figure 2 is a vertical section of the signal device. Figure 3 is a section and diagrammatic view of the apparatus; the master valve being in right turn signal action position. Figure 4 is a sectional detail of the pendulum motor valve. Figure 5 is a schematic section showing the relief or exhaust position of the motor valve.

The signal comprises a suitable shell having an upper tail-light box 2 with a face glass 3 covering a bulb 4 having a circuit 5. vThe box 2 is 'superjacent a larger cham her 6 and extends down into it for compactness of structure.

This chamber has a front glass 7 marked Stop so as to comply withthe laws or ordinances requiring such designation, and in the chamber is a bulb or bulbs 8 on circuit The stem 10 1s plvotally mounted at 16 Serial No. 30,337.

and is adapted to befswung to and fro by any desired means. Such means is here shown as including a fluid motor including acylinder 17 having a double action piston 18 toiopposite ends of which pressure fluid is served by a suitable valve member '18 in a valve body 19 having a pressure port line 20 and an opposite openexhaust port 21, (Figure 4). Intermediate these are opposite conduits'2223 to opposite endsof the cylinder 17 The valve 18 is of diametrical form and is connected by its lever 24 and link 25 to the pendulum 10.

When the pendulum is hanging straight down the valve 18 is held in the position seen in Figure 4, and uncovers port 22 and supply 20 but covers port 23 this the latter now being open to the exhaust side 21.

If now the pressure fluid is turned into line 20 pressure will pass to port 22 and act to thrust the piston to the right; this action, by a piston rod roller 28, pressing the pendulum over to one side and'starting oscillations. On this stroke of the pendulum the valve 18 closes conduit 22 to pressure and "opens it to exhaust, and o ens conduit 23 to pressure from line 20. ence the piston is reversed by pressure, and by gravity on the pendulum. Motor operation continues as long as the pressure is-applied. It is understood that the piston rollers 28 will beso, spaced as to permit of effective action of the pendulum. i

Pressure supply is controlled by a suitable valve means which I prefer to mount upon the steering column P of the vehicle so as to be very convenient for the driver. Light signals are concurrently turned on. This is done by the master valve means controlling the signal motor.

The master valve includes a block 30 having bolts 31 enabling it to be firmly clamped upon the post P. The block hasa supply tube'32 from any source of pressure (or conversely to a vacuum chamber). Oppo site the supply is attached the pressure line 20 of valve 18--19. Between. the lines 20-32, of block 30, is an open exhaust port 33, which may be shielded to deflect the exhaust stream, if desired- In the block 30 is a valve plug 34 having ducts 3536 leading to a recess 37 always open to line 32. Between ducts 3536 is a passage 38, (Figure 5), which in one position of plug 34 connects line 20 to the exhaust 33 of block 30 so that as the pendulum 10 drops to the vertical position the piston 18 can freely find a neutral or intermediate position. This is when the driver turns the valve 3 to normal, non-signal position which is done by means of a handle 40 of thevalve.

This handle works on a segment 41 having a central detaining portion 42 and end contacts 4:34:4t which are electrically in circuit with respective signal bulb 15-45. The handle has an. insulated feed line contact A5 to engage either terminal Ail-44 and thus complete the signal lamp circuit when the handle is thrown to the limit at either end of the segment 41 and'in such action opening line 20 by either duct 35-36 to pressure line 32 and starting the signal motor from the neutral position of piston.

Bringing the handle d0 to center cuts oil flow and opens the motor to exhaust 33. This permits the pendulum lamp 11 to drop to vertical where it is lightly retained by a' spring seat 4:8 to prevent undesired vibration of the signal.

The piston rod is preferably supported in a guide 50 and has rollers 28 to actuate the pendulum.

The lamp 11 has pointed, opposite side windows l1*-ll showing lights of the same color as their respective sides of the lamp '11.

W hen the vehicle is to be stopped the still, stop signal 7 -is energized by closing its circuit switch, which is usually connected to the foot brake. When the vehicle is to be turned, the handle 40 is snapped by the drivers finger to right or left, as intended turn, andthis starts the signal and turns on the proper signal light in lamp 1]..

' The movement or the turnin signal will he an indication to those following, that the car will not stop but keep moving to make the turn.

The port 38 is in the same plane as the lines 20-82 and passage 88 crosses below duct 36 but its ends extend up to the plane of port 33. For clarity, Fig.5 shows the plug 34,- sectioned in the plane oi the passage 38 and as litted into the plane of the lines 20-32.

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle signal device including a pendulously operating sign, a reciprocating actuator engaging a part of the sign, an ac: tuator action reversing valve device connected to the sign, and a master controlling means for the actuator.

2. A vehicle signal device including a pendulously operating signal element, a reciprocating double-action fluid motor whose piston operatively engages said element, a motor reversing valve connected to the said element, and which is automatically brought to a neutral pressure relief position loy said element and a remote supply valve connected to the reversing valve.

3. A vehicle signal device including a pendulously operating signal element, a reciprocating double action fluid motor whose piston operatively engages said element, a motor reversing valve connected to the said element, and which is automatically brought to a neutral pressure relief position by said element and a remote supply valve connected to the'reversing valve, the supply valve having a relief port to allow the actuator to come to neutral position.

4. A vehicle signal including a shell having a tail-light box, a still stop light signal, and a pendulous oscillatory, turning signal means provided with oppositely pointing darts.

5. A vehicle signal including a shell having an oscillatory, pendulous turning signal means; said turning signal being of diflerent color from the stop signal means including a lamp box having oppositely pointing window compartments with difierently colored media.

6. A stop light signal shell having a slotted bottom, a pendulum pivoted in the shell and oscillating in the slot, a motor piston rod in the shell on aging and for oscillating the pendulum, an a motor valve connected to the. pendulum.

7. A stop light signal shell having a slotted bottom, a pendulum pivoted in the shell and oscillating in the slot, a double action motor in the shell engaging and for oscillating the pendulum, a local valve connected tothe pendulum; and a pressure fluid main valve for the motor.

. 8. A stop light signal shell having a slotted bottom, a pendulum pivoted in the shell and oscillating in the slot, motor means in the shell for oscillating the pendulum, a motor governor connected to the pendulum; and a remote master valve for controlling the motor fluid.

9. A stop light signal shell having a slot ted bottom, a pendulum lamp pivoted in the shell and oscillating in the slot, means in the shell engaging and for oscillating the pendulum, said means including a pressure fluid "operated motor; a motor valve connected to the pendulum, and a remote master valve for controlling the motor fluid 10. A vehicle signal apparatus including a shell having a pendulum lamp, a fluid motor in the shell havin a reversing valve connected to the en ulum, said motor oscillating the'pendhlum, and, a remote master supply and relief valve for the motor.

lL-A vehicle signal device including a pendulum stern carrying a set or opposite direction signals illurninahle for night serv ice, a motor having a piston rod with rollers engaging the stem oi the pendulum, and a valve connected to the stem to control the motor.

NIGHQLAS MEROLA. 

